Stamp-canceler



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IAEEZ F.'CowDERY, oF lsAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STAM P-cANcELER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,410, dated December 26, 1893. Application filed December 21,1892. Serial No. 455,925. (Nomodel.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JABEZ F. CowDERY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Stamp-Cancelers; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the same.

My invention relates to the class of devices used for canceling stamps, such as postage and revenue stamps, or other stamps which require to be so marked, defaced orobliterated as to be killed, as the operation in postage stamp canceling is technically called.

My invention consists in the novel details of construction and arrangement which I shall hereinafter fully describe and specifically point out in the claims.

Defacing or killing stamps is usually effected by means of a handled implement, the under surface of the base of which is engraved with a stamp of suitable design, adapted to transfer ink from a pad to the face of the stamp to be canceled. In many implements of this character, the base is also provided with the engraving of the postmark fitted with changeable type for the date. The defacing impression left by the canceler upon the face of the stamp, is only surface deep, and it can be removed or washed away by the application of proper chemicals. This can be done so skilfully that the stamp will be left perfectly clean, and in a condition lit for unlawful re-use, and this without danger of detection, as far as the appearance of the stamp is concerned.

It is the object of my invention to prevent ,the possibility of thus making a second use of a stamp once canceled, and this I accomplish by using, in connection with the defacer or marker, a sufciently sharp edge which will indent the stamp, or will carry, by indentation, the ink into the body of the stamp and not merely upon its surface, and the indentation or indented mark thus made, it will be found impossible to efface.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention,-Figure 1 is a perspective view of` my stamp canceler. Fig. 2 is a vertical section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a combined stamp canceler and post-marker, the post-marker being in section. Fig. 4 is a bottom View of same.

A is the base plate of my canceler. Upon its under surface is the usual raised portion B engraved with any suitable defacing design, adapted to receive ink from a pad and to transfer it tothe face of the stamp. In close connection withthis defacer or marker B, preferably in its central portion is an indenting edge C, which projects from the face of the marker sufficiently to indent the stamp, and when used with an ink pad to carry the ink into theI body of the stamp. This indenter, in its best form, should not be so sharp as to cut the stamp, nor so far projected as to penetrate through it. It should be so located as to produce an indentation, and to carry the ink into such depression. It may be of any suitable design, and if prelferred, it may be in the shape of a number,

thus indicating, as is usual, the identity of the operator. I have here shown it, for convenience, in the shape of a figure 4.

In practice, the indenter should not normally project beyond the face of the marker, to eect the best results, for in that case, the blow delivered would have a tendency to a rocking character, whereas it should be a true flat blow. Accordingly I so mount the indenter that normally it lies flush with or is slightly withdrawn behind the surface of the marker, so that the blow of the latter shall be flat; and I so arrange said indenter, that, by the act of stamping, it shall be projected to its required work.

The preferred construction is as follows l The baseAhas a short stem a, extending vertically from its upper surface. Upon this is fitted a vertically slidable sleeve D, in the upper portion of which is seated a spring E. The spring rests upon the top of stem a, and is confined above by the short shank f of a handle F, Iitted to the top of sleeve D. Secured to the lower portion of sleeveD is a bracket d which carries the stem or shank c ofthe indenter C, said indenter passing through and being slidable in the base A. Small posts a rising from base A, and passing through the bracket d serve to guide the sleeve D in its vertical movement, and by their heads a2 to limit the upward movement of said sleeve; its downward movement being I OG limited by its lower end coming in contact with the base plate A.

The indenter C may be initially adjusted in position by having its stem or shank c eX ternally threaded, as shown, and screwed through bracket d being held by a nut c.

The spring E normally holds sleeve D up, so that the indenter is withdrawn from the face of marker B. When a blow is struck either upon the ink pad or upon the stamp, the base plate is arrested, but the sleeve D continues to descend thereby projecting the indenter to receive the `ink or to cancel the stamp as heretofore described. Then the implement is raised, the spring returns the parts.

The device may be used as a stamp canceler alone, or as shown in Figs. 3 and l it maybe combined with a post marker. In this case, the base plate A is made elongated and on its under surface, at the end opposite the marker and indenter, is the raised portion G engraved with the name of the sending post-oflice. In the base plate is made a socket I-I opening out above and having the slots in its bottom forming the seats for the changeable type g indicating the date. Into the top of the socket H is screwed the flatbottomed cap h which, through an intervening pad h', bears directly and with equal pressure upon the type g. There are two advantages in this construction, namely, the elongated shape of the base plate, as opposed to the usual circular shape, indicates, without further observation, the correct position for holding the implement, and the changeable type being in a socket exclusively devoted to them, can be arranged centrally therein to receive the equal pressure of the screw cap, instead of, as in the usual construction, being located in a socket co-extensive with the base plate, and to one side therein, whereby the pressure of the handle base is unequal.

The device is simple and durable in construction, and can be handled as roughly as speed may require.

The marked depression left by the indenter cannot be effaced.

When the device has not the post marker attached, a suitable bearing surface, such as is shown in Figs. l and 2 by a3, is formed on or applied to the under surface of base plate A, said bearingI surface being flush with the defacer or marker B, whereby the blow of the face plate is square and true. This bearing surface may be a plain one, or provided with a design, or lettered as here shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A stamp canceler having a defacer or marker, an indenting edge in connection therewith and lying normally back of the surface of the defacer or marker, and a slidable handled sleeve having a bracket in which the shank of the indenter is adjustably secured;

said indenting edge adapted t by the act of stamping to be projected beyond the surface of the defacer or marker whereby an impression is made in the stamp, substantially as herein described.

2. A stamp canceler consisting of a base plate having on its under surface a defacer or marker, a slidable handled sleeve fitted t0 the upper side of said plate and held up by a spring, and an indenter carried by said sleeve and passing down through the base plate and its defacer or marker, the lower end of said indenter normally lying back of the surface of the defacer or marker and adapted by the downward movement of the sleeve in the act of stamping, to be projected beyond said surface, whereby an impression is made in the stamp, substantially as herein described.

3. A stamp canceler consisting of a base plate having on its under surface a defacer or marker and a short stern projecting from its upper side, a slidable sleeve tted on said stem and having a handle on its top, a spring for holding the sleeve up, a bracket on said sleeve, and an indenter carried by said sleeve and passing down through the base plate and its defacer or marker, the lower end of said indenter normally lying back of the surface of the defacer or marker and adapted by the downward movement of the sleeve in the act of stamping, to be projected beyond said surface, whereby an impression is made in the stamp, substantially as herein described.

4. A stamp canceler consisting of a base plate having on its under surface a defacer or marker, and a short stem projecting from its upper side, a slidable sleeve itted on said stem and having ahandle on its top, a spring for holding the sleeve up, a bracket on said sleeve, posts on the base plate for guiding and limiting the bracket, and an indenter carried by said sleeve and passing down through the base plate and its defacer or marker, the lower end of said indenter normally lying back of the surface of the defacer or marker and adapted by the downward movement of the sleeve in the act of stamping, to be projected beyond said surface, whereby an impression is made in the stamp, substantially4 as herein described.

5. A stamp canceler consisting of a base plate having on its under surface a defacer or marker and a short stem projectingV from its upper side, a slidable sleeve fitted on said stem and having a handle on its top, a spring for holding the sleeve up, a bracket on said sleeve, and an indenter carried by said sleeve and passing down through the base plate and its defacer or marker, the lower end of said indenter normally lying back of the surface IOO of the defacer or marker and adapted by the downward movement of the sleeve in the act of stamping, to be projected beyond said surface, whereby an impression is made in the stamp, and means for initially adjusting said indenter, substantially as herein described.

6. A stamp canceler and post marker conssting of an elongated base plate having a said socket, bearing upon the type with equal slidably mounted sleeve and suitable handle pressure substantially as herein described. arranged approximately midway of its length, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my a defaoer or marker under said plate near hand. one end, a post marker under said plate near JABEZ F. COWDERY. the other end, a socket in the plate above Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE,

J. A. BAYLEss.

said post marker having central slots for the f changeable type, and a screw cap and pad in 

